CIHM Microfiche Series (l\Aonographs) ICl\/iH Collection de microfiches (monographies) m Canadian InstitHta fo» Historical MleroraprodMetlona / Inatltiit Canadian da microfapradiictians hittoriqua* • !• Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes technique et bibliogiaphiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the l>est original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may tie bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. n D D n D D D Coloured covers / Couveiture de couleur Covers damaged / Couve-nire endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaur^ et/ou pellicula Cover title missing / Le litre de couverture manq'ie Coloured maps / Cartes geographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / Encre de oaulcur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Cokxired plates andfor illustratk)ns / Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material / Rell6 avec d'autres documents Only edUnn available / Seule edltkin disponlble [7\ Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distoisnn le long de la marge int^rieure. I I Blank leaves added during restoratkms may appear ' — ' within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from timing / II se peut que certaines pages blanches aioutees lore d'une restauration apparaissent dans le lexte, mais, kxsque cela «tait pmsible. ces pages n'ont pas Hi film^es. L'Inslitut a microfilm^ le meilieur exampiaire qu'il lul a 6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibli- ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modifications dans la m6th- ode normale de filmage sont indiques ci-dessous. I I Cotoured pages / Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ ' — ' Pages restaurtes et/ou pellicultes ryf Pages discokMjred, stained or foxed / '—' Pages d^cok>rties, tacheties ou piquees I I Pages detached/ Pages dStachSes r^ Showthmugh / Transparence I I CJuality of print varies / ' — ' Qualit^ inhale de l'lmpressk>n I I Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire I I Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissu"5s, etc., have been returned to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totaiement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont Hi filmees k nouveau de fa^on a obtenir la meilleure image possible. I I Opposing pages with varying colouration or ' — ' discolourations are filmed twk:e to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des dteol- orations sont filmdes deux fols afin d'obtenir la meilieur image possible. D AddWonal comments / Commentaires suppKmentaires: This itttn is f itmad at the raduction ratio diaefcad btlem/ Ca documant ast filmi au tau« da rMuction indiqiri ci-daoous. lOX 14X 1IX ~" ax 26X MX u J n 16X 20X Ttra copy flimad hara haa baan raproduead thanks to tha ganaroalty of: D. B. Wildon Library Uninnlty of WMtim Ontirio L'axamplaira ntmt fut rapradult gries i la gtntroaM da: D. B. Wtldon Library Univtnity of Wtittrn Ontario Tha Imagas appaaring hara ara ttw boat quality poaaibia eonaldaring tha condition and lagibillty of tha original copy and In kaaping with tha filming contract ipacificatlons. Original copias In printad papar eovara ara flimad baginning with tha from covar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or liluatratad impraa- ■ion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. Ail othar original copiaa ara flimad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or lliuatratad impraa- sion, and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or lilustratad impraaahin. Tha last racordad frama on aaeh mierofleha shall contain tiia symbol — » (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol ▼ (moaning "END"), whichsvar appiiaa. Maps, piatsa, charts, ate., may ba flimad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga to bo antiraly Includad In ona axpoaura ara flimad baginning in tha uppar laft hand comar, iaft to right tnd top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama lliuatrata tha Laa Imagaa sulvsntsa ont it* raproduitaa avse la plua grand soln, oompto tanu da la condition at da ia nottat* da l'axamplaira film*, at an eonformM avac las conditlona du eontrat da flimaga. Laa axampiairaa origlnaux dont la couvartura an paplar aat Imprimto sont flimts sn comman9ant par la pramlar plat at an tarminant soit par la darnlira paga qui eomporta una amprainta d'Impraaaion ou d'iiiustration, soit par la sacond plat, salon la eaa. Toua laa autras axampiairaa origlnaux sont fllm" i- , ,^ legislate an unpopular party into power. But after CENSUS OF 188I . ■ ,_ ► 1,-^ .h,. leaders of the Conservative party threw had been taken, '"e,'^'"'^', ;' ' L, uuo„ which both parties aside the understanding had n.87-j^ponwn P^^^ ^^ then relied, as much so as ;f it hj"! been »" g V .^ our federal constitution. The government a^ ^^._^^^ ^^^ administration a ma^ony in Je Com^on.^^^l^^.^^^ .^ y ^. to the County of Middlesex^yy^.^^^^^ .^ ^^^ in the election of 89^ the Ketor ^.^^ ^^^.^ opponents aggregate a '"»J°fr ° reoScntatives. This proceeding was Sirn^d'diSS^^^^ "p„., Had -trol o^^^^^^^^^^^^ ra^iyfurther STsfoir;|etheaaa^ a.^^^^^^^^^ our success m the g^""al election ^^^-^^^^^^^..^y je- proposed to transfer the work of CONSTITUTINC. THK CONSTITUENCIES to judges of eminence not l«cau. -^-f °XtseT; 5 by depriving ourselves of any political advantage in the mat- ter. W'c were unable even with th.'s concession to secure the support of any op.^oncnt of the Kovernmcnt in the senate. We knew that pai ., 'tcMng was there very intense. \Vc knew that the Senate pr laimed theinselvet a non-partisan bod\-. They may have persuaded themselves, that, as there was a redistribution of seats only once in ten years, there could only once in ten years be a readjustment of the boundaries of constituencies; and so if parliament had used its authority, and cimmitted an injustice, no matter how great, it must continue until another census was taken and another readjust- ment was called for under the express provisions of our con- stitution. I need not say to you that this \iew was prepos- terous, and wa:. without the shadow of authority to support It. H}- the census we ascertain the number of representatives to which each province, for the succeeding ten years, is on- titled; but this does not prevent parliament, if it were so inclined, from readjusiing the boundaries of the constituencies whenever it may think the public interest calls for any amendment in the representation The census enables us to fix the niimber of representatives to which each province is entitled in the House of Commons; it does nothing more. Our census will soon be completed. The population of each ,)K)\ince will, I trust, be accurately shown. Our represcnta- iinn m accordance with the law and the facts will be rcadjust- i>l. i confiflently hope that the measure of redistribution will be a I'KkKF.CTI.V K.MR .MK.VL'KK, based upon the inviolaK;ity of county boundaries, and subject to this, upon the principle of representation by population. I trust there will be no compromises with these accepted principles in the interest of some supposed strong candidate. The Reform party are strong so long as they stand up for svhat IS just and proper, but if there is to be a departure from accepted dc rincs, it had better be left to our political opponents who did the .vroiig before. There may be some who think it wise to imitate them, am! lo follow their ex- ample. I am not of that opinion. There is great strength in standing up for the right. It is an immense source of strength to a public man when the people believe that he is unswerv- ingly devoted to what is fair and ju.' d when they believe he will not deviate from the course ,o marked out merely because some candidate on his own side is persuaded himself. or han endcavore.1 to pcrsua.lc others that if >v.u will depart from a "ound rule for his sake, your chances of succes, will be Im^r.*^ I-et me say, that if that succesH could be made &t^y certain, it would be altogether too dearly pur- ?h"ed by such a course, becaune it is purchased by causing ?he puWU: to distrust your honesty ; and secondly, because in doln^ so, you weaken the confidence of men with whom moral considerations are paramount, and who "-""'d °»»'"- wise on this ground alone, have supported you^ I trust rhereforc. when we are called upon to deal with this subjec we shall lo so thoroughly, and by parliament ,alo"'=. «'''^°"« any extrinsic aid, and .vitho.it deviating a hair's breadth from ?he principle to which we are committed, and to which, and not to any caricature of it, the public sanction has been given^ This is practical ,x>litics in the best sense, because ,t is the honest course to ake. I trust tha' the representation wil be made perfectly fair and perfectly just, and thU it shall not be given W any others than those to whom it rightfully belongs. It is little short of monstrous to adopt any other rule, and it will be the duty of the electorate of the country to see that thole principles for which the Liberal party have long contendel.'^hich the country has in two -c«»'-,«''f !°- sanctioned, are carried into effect according to their true tntenrnd meaning. I have said now, gentlemen, all I pro- pose sayTng on thif subject of redistribution at the present Sme. I hfve only called your attention to the abuse and to the remedy which Reformers have long advocated, and it is for ^ou to see that the redress given is fair and honest and th»t for which we have long contended, and not something Xetherdifferent-acariclture or that which the country had a right to expect. Territorially Canada is one of the most extensive countries in Christendom, and it is our business to make it so far as we can in wealth and in population, commensurate with its Territorial dimensions. The problem is one of B«at ""P°rt- ance and it ought to receive the most serious consideration a? the hands of the people and their representatives. We have in Canada great resources which require development. We have to consider how this development can best be pro- moted, how our mines can be made most P^o^f «■«• a""*""' fertUe ands to yield the largest amount °f°°- P-^-de hImseTf That he is a^s;i;::e^:K^---^-j.e^i^ 13 of these suspicions ; so that I fear there is little prospect of friendly co-operation between the two sections of the great Anglo-Saxon family, until some overpowering necessity presses it upon our neighbors. 1 greatly regret that this is so ; the world would certainly be better off if more generous sentiri:ents prevailed, and more friendly relations were estab- lished; but the disregard for public law, unde- the name of the Monroe doctrine, is a declared menace to our sovereign rights. So we must consider the facts as they are, and not simply as we would like to have them: and we must not forget that it is not in our power to uphold our rights, and to maintain our self-respect, and at the same time do mucn to in.urove these relations. It is for this reason true, that British statesmen practically take side < ngainst their own country who do not endeavor to turn the emmigration from the United Kingdom towards other British possessions, otherwise the British emmigrant goes abroad to increase the wealth and population of the country whose convictions are hostile, and who will turn the descendants of these men into currents that will be unfriendly to British interests hereafter. British statesmen should remember that there is as much required from the United Kingdom as from other parts of the Empire, to pro- mote imperial unity. I hr.ve NO SVMPATllV with those who are calling upon the Imperial parliament to burden the people of the United Kingdom for our benefit: to put impediments in the way of their commercial srrowth to help us, but they should consider how inuch the empire will be strengthened by the increase of wealth and population of the colonies: how the development of their mineral resources, and the increase of their numbers would do vastly mor to give to it prosperity, peace and security than could be accompli-shed by directing their population and wealth into regions whose people believe that nothing good ever emanates from the United Kingdom. Experience has shown that the inferences in respect to commercial affairs, ctut of which the indifference of British statesmen has arisen, are altogether erroneous. I do not say that England has not prospered luider her policy of free trade. I do not say that the principles of free trade are not econom- ically sound I think they-are; but it is not true that other nations are likely soon to accept them, and to act upon them. of pmMion .„ i„, „M ,„ '„2T,„ to£ L „. rfi BRITAIN'S INKI.UENCE policy, based upon what is' Vm^u^iJ' ^^^ thrrkTrtv'o? S:u,.^ir -:,S^^-- --- -.in. Ontario who desire more room, and who wo„[d TeT'th '" possessions in this province to acquire a CeTarea fo th^^' selves and their sons upon the\rairies '^rthT NorthweTt' ■4 Many small farms will admit of much more intensive cultiva- Ton than has yet been given them, and by the necessary skiUed labor their products could be enormously mcreased. There are ordinary tradesmen, bricklayer,, masons black smiths and carpenters, for whom there is no room. Ifweadd l^ooo to thc'^agricultural population of our territories an- nually. we could diffuse among them 20,000 of the 'rla.ses 1 have mentioned. It is of great consequence that this should be done and by this large addition from the British Islands we could venture upon securing a very much larger number from the continent of Europe than w-e have hitherto obtained for we could more readily convert them into a people w h British ideas and British tendencies, by makmg them early acquainted with our language, and by so opening to them the literature of England w? would enable them to acquire our habits of thought and expression and thus become an insep- arable part of our population. If there is to be, as it is in the interests of mankind there should be, a (IREAT BRITISH EMPIRE, teaching men to love freedom, to seek truth, to hate falsehood and oppression, and ready to make some sacrifices for he common good, the people of the United Kingdom must themselves become interested in its accomplishment. The breezes which now tend to carry us from all parts of the British dominions into the same harbor may again sleep, and m? ' not afford, for a long time to come, so favorable an oppor.unity of being drawn together. I do not suggest any written constitution. 1 do not propose any compact. What I suggest is a friendly understanding, friendly co-operation for lommon purposes, voluntarily undertaken. Common enterprises for the common good, common dangers to be guarded against, will determine better, through the lapse of Ime what the constitution of the British Empire should be, than any statesman, however wise or cautious, can do at the present time. I purposed to have discussed fully the subject of copyright as a matter of controversy between ourselves and the British Government. It is too large and too important a question not to discuss fully. Our right of self-government is involved, and we cannot treat the subject as otherwise than important, and to-night I shall pass it by. 15 The chair was occupied by Mr. J. G. Crosby, and on the platform or in the audience, besides the minister of justice, were Messrs. J. A. Walker. K.C., of Chatham ; John Cameron, London Advertiser ; Walter Mills, of Ridgetown ; D. Camp- bell, London ; Henry Watson, Rev. Charles Crichton, E. B. Mills, Palmyra ; Jonah Gosnell, e.x-warden ; Ed. Beattie, George Reycraft, James Tape, Thomas Lee, John D. Gillis, R. C. Scott, Jos. Hornal, H. C. Foster, Frederick Scott, Peter Curr, Alex. McTavish, A. J. Gillis, Charles McLaren, James Attridge, John Brosnaham, Samuel Gosnell, D. T. Gillis, Daniel Mills, Thos. Mickle, James Stevenson, of Ekfrid ; Lawrence Tape, and many other prominent residents of the district.